Ten-man TSG suffer heavy defeat in Leverkusen

Following his team's good performance in Wolfsburg last week, TSG manager Markus Gisdol made just one enforced change to his line-up. After injury had ruled him out, Tobias Weis was replaced by Sebastian Rudy in midfield, giving the Germany U21 player his first start since before the winter break. Along with the similar line-up, there was also a similar start to the game for Hoffenheim as they once again found themselves behind after quarter of an hour. Eugen Polanski gave the ball away in midfield, allowing Sidney Sam to break and use André Schürrle outside of him. He combined with fellow danger man Stefan Kießling, picking out the Bundesliga's second top scorer at the far post where he hammered the ball home.

Polanski's day then went from bad to worse less than ten minutes later when he saw a straight red card after bringing down Kießling in the area. Things didn't get worse for TSG on the scoreline though, with Koen Casteels saving the resulting penalty well from Simon Rolfes. Markus Gisdol did have to undergo a defensive reshuffle though, withdrawing Sven Schipplock for Patrick Ochs. TSG were struggling to make their mark on the game and had only troubled Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno with long-range efforts from Rudy and Andi Beck when the hosts found another goal. Schürrle, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League, collected the ball 20 yards out before opening up his body and curling a shot into the top corner of Casteels' goal.

Outclassed and outnumbered

TSG emerged from the half-time break two goals and a man down but kept Leverkusen quiet for the first 15 minutes of the second half. Stefan Kießling refused to be silenced for too long though, and added a third goal for Bayer 04 in the 65th minute. Once again he was picked out with a cross, heading in his second of the game courtesy of a Daniel Carvajal assist. TSG were being outclassed as well as outnumbered and couldn't add anything themselves in attack, despite the half-time introduction of Joselu. A fourth goal came just four minutes after the third as Schürrle also added his second of the game with an easy side-footed finish from Michal Kadlec's pull-back.

By the time the home team added a fifth in the 79th minute, there were Leverkusen players queuing up on the edge of the box. Substitute Arkadiusz Milik hit the crossbar but the rebound dropped for Stefan Reinartz who put the final nail in the coffin. It was a painful afternoon for Hoffenheim, but not one that leaves them with any lasting damage as other sides above them in the table also failed to pick up any points. A quick dusting off is required before they face 1. FC Nürnberg in next week's action.

Matt Hardy

Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Leno – Carvajal (82' Friedrich), Wollscheid, Schwaab, Kadlec – Bender (46' Hegeler), Reinartz, Rolfes – Sam, Kießling (76' Milik), Schürrle

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Casteels – Beck, Delpierre, Vestergaard, Johnson – Polanski, Rudy (66' Ludwig), Salihovic – Firmino (46' Joselu), Schipplock (29' Ochs), Volland

Goals: 1-0 Kießling (16'), 2-0 Schürrle (32'), 3-0 Kießling (65'), 4-0 Schürrle (69'), 5-0 Reinartz (79')

Yellow cards: Sam
Red cards: Polanski (23')
Attendance: 28,683
Referee: Guido Winkmann

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